How to Celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

How to Celebrate the Ascension with Children
Feast Day: 40 Days After Easter (Traditionally a Thursday)

The Ascension of Jesus is such a beautiful and awe-inspiring moment in our faith. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 days, and then He ascended into Heaven right before their eyes. What a sight that must have been!

This feast reminds us that Jesus didn’t just disappear. He went ahead of us to prepare a place in Heaven. Here are some hands-on ways to help children enter into the mystery of the Ascension:

Color and Craft the Ascension

Start with our Ascension coloring page to introduce the story visually and spark conversation. Then, try our Jesus Ascending Craft, a fun and interactive way for kids to see Jesus “rising” up into the clouds. 

Eat “Cloudy” Ascension Foods

Celebrate with foods that feel light, fluffy, and skyward-themed! Here are some fun and easy ideas:

• Cotton candy 
• Marshmallows or marshmallowy foods like pavlova, meringues
• Angel food cake with whipped cream and berries
• Cloud eggs (baked whipped egg whites with the yolk nestled in the middle) over toast
• Cloud Jello: layer blue jello and whipped cream in clear cups

You can use our Jesus Ascending Craft as a cake topper as well for your treat!

Jesus on a Balloon 

Helium balloons are a big hit with my kids, and this is one of those feast days where I go for it. You can attach our Jesus Ascending on a Cloud printable to the balloon string and let the balloon fly into the sky or float around your living room if you’re indoors. This can be such a simple visual of Jesus rising especially for little hearts and minds.

Read the Scripture Together

Take time to read the New Testament accounts of the Ascension like Luke 24:50–53
or Acts 1:6–11. After reading, talk about how the disciples must have felt. Were they surprised? Amazed? Confused? Hopeful? 

Take a Hike and Picnic at the Top

Traditionally, many Christians would hike a mountain or a hill on Ascension Day, echoing how Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives.

You can do something similar: plan a short family hike (or even a walk up a local hill) and enjoy a picnic at the top.